by Phil Houseal | Jan 16, 2020 | All Articles, Education, Music, Philosophy
Jan 15, 2020–In order to conquer a challenge, we must stop respecting it so much. In Mike Tyson’s book Undisputed Truth, he tells how famed boxing trainer Cus D’Amato took him on has a teenager and guided him to become heavyweight champion of the world. When D’Amato...
by Phil Houseal | Jan 9, 2020 | All Articles, History, Music, People of the Hill Country, Philosophy
Jan 8, 2020–I’m reading Willie Nelson’s autobiography. And it’s distressing me. Because everything he did in his journey to country music sainthood, I did the opposite. He was a rebel and a rounder. He would skip school. I was teacher’s pet. We both share a love of...
by Phil Houseal | Jan 9, 2020 | All Articles, Philosophy
Jan 1, 2020–It’s that time of year to reflect and refocus. Here are some thoughts: “Speak truth to power” should be “speak truth to weakness” because it is the weak people in our lives and weakness in ourselves that we allow to do the most damage. Men and women are...
by Phil Houseal | Dec 26, 2019 | All Articles, Events, Music, People of the Hill Country, Venue
Dec 25, 2019–Three Tenors to perform in Boerne’s Cave Without A Name Dec 28 In 2008, Hill Country native Donald Braswell II stepped into the national spotlight after placing in the Top 5 on America’s Got Talent. Echoes of that journey still resonate for the singer,...
by Phil Houseal | Dec 23, 2019 | Events, Music, People of the Hill Country, Venue
Dec 25, 2019–During the holiday season there are so many opportunities to hear orchestras, madrigals, and choirs perform holiday favorites that it’s hard to come up with a new way to celebrate musically. But Whit Matteson has spearheaded an idea that lets people...
by Phil Houseal | Dec 18, 2019 | All Articles, Education, Events, Philosophy
Dec 18, 2019–I resent how much effort it takes to get dressed every morning. Pull on undershorts. Pull on undershirt. Pull on one sock. Pull on the other (hopefully, matching) sock. Pull on pants. Put on shirt. Pull on shoes. Then the fastening begins: Fasten 6...
by Phil Houseal | Dec 12, 2019 | All Articles, Education, History, Philosophy
Dec 11, 2019–‘Tis the season for holiday programs and pageants. Every parent, grandparent, and squirmy sibling will spend at least one evening packed in a school auditorium or stuffed in an undersized classroom chair watching a parade of plays and eating potluck. That...
by Phil Houseal | Dec 7, 2019 | All Articles, Events, Philosophy
“Be brave enough to suck at something new.” Dec 4, 2019–A few weeks ago I was coaxed back onto the stage again. Readers of this column know I am a reluctant thespian. I never acted in high school, and my only other roles were when I played a tree in a local production...
by Phil Houseal | Nov 27, 2019 | All Articles, Philosophy
Nov 27, 2019–When I earned my first income as a paperboy, I decided to buy Christmas gifts for everyone in my family. I perused the Sunset Gift Catalog, filled out my order, and eagerly awaited the wonders promised within. It was a painful introduction to the...
by Phil Houseal | Nov 20, 2019 | All Articles, Education, History, People of the Hill Country
Nov 20, 2019–For a state perceived as largely desert, Texas has an “insanely diverse” number of water habitats. That includes approximately 1,100 public impoundments covering 1.7 million acres, and 191,000 miles of rivers and streams. All of these waters are potential...
